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Prison officers stage unofficial walkouts in England and Wales Prison officers stage unofficial walkouts in England and Wales
(about 2 hours later)
Prison officers across England and Wales have staged unofficial walkouts in protest over plans to change the way they work.Prison officers across England and Wales have staged unofficial walkouts in protest over plans to change the way they work.
They say they have been "undermined" over proposals to reform the system of offender management within jails.They say they have been "undermined" over proposals to reform the system of offender management within jails.
There is also concern over safety, with almost 5,000 assaults on prison staff last year.There is also concern over safety, with almost 5,000 assaults on prison staff last year.
The Prison Service has said it will "continue to work closely" with unions to address their concerns.The Prison Service has said it will "continue to work closely" with unions to address their concerns.
The Prison Officers Association (POA) told its members to gather outside each prison and hold an hour-long branch meeting between 08:00 BST and 09:00 BST.The Prison Officers Association (POA) told its members to gather outside each prison and hold an hour-long branch meeting between 08:00 BST and 09:00 BST.
Prison officers are technically banned from going on strike but in 2012 they took part in walkouts over pension reforms.Prison officers are technically banned from going on strike but in 2012 they took part in walkouts over pension reforms.
The POA says it is angry that its members have not been consulted over the government's plans to change the way prisoners are supervised during their sentences - which it believes could lead to redundancies.The POA says it is angry that its members have not been consulted over the government's plans to change the way prisoners are supervised during their sentences - which it believes could lead to redundancies.
It has accused prison officials of a "complete lack of engagement" over the plans.It has accused prison officials of a "complete lack of engagement" over the plans.
Safety concernsSafety concerns
In a joint letter, the POA's national chairman, Mike Rolfe, and general secretary, Steve Gillian, say the reforms will lead to a diminishing of workers' rights and add that they make "no apology" for asking members to call the walkout meetings.In a joint letter, the POA's national chairman, Mike Rolfe, and general secretary, Steve Gillian, say the reforms will lead to a diminishing of workers' rights and add that they make "no apology" for asking members to call the walkout meetings.
They wrote: "The Prison Service has been in perpetual crisis for a long period of time.They wrote: "The Prison Service has been in perpetual crisis for a long period of time.
"Many good, committed and hardworking colleagues, our members, have long been struggling to deal with the increasing violence, challenging working environments and destructive budget cuts that have seen a drastic reduction in staffing and have made our establishments dangerous and unsafe places to work.""Many good, committed and hardworking colleagues, our members, have long been struggling to deal with the increasing violence, challenging working environments and destructive budget cuts that have seen a drastic reduction in staffing and have made our establishments dangerous and unsafe places to work."
They added: "We must try and protect and challenge from the ill-conceived, under-resourced and dangerous attack on our terms and conditions and working practices."They added: "We must try and protect and challenge from the ill-conceived, under-resourced and dangerous attack on our terms and conditions and working practices."
A POA spokesman said he expected between 5,000 and 6,000 prison officers to have taken part in the walkout, with the numbers showing the "strength of feeling" of its members.A POA spokesman said he expected between 5,000 and 6,000 prison officers to have taken part in the walkout, with the numbers showing the "strength of feeling" of its members.
He added that members had been told to be "responsible" and that patrols took place on prison wings while the meetings were taking place.He added that members had been told to be "responsible" and that patrols took place on prison wings while the meetings were taking place.
Prison officer Mark Fairhurst, a member of the POA's national executive committee who attended the meeting at Liverpool Prison, said proposed changes to terms and conditions had been made with no consultation, adding: "This is completely unacceptable. They need to sit around the table and discuss these things."
He said the plans included outsourcing offender management to probation teams, as well as scrapping the rank of supervising officer.
He added: "We're now in a situation where it's a perfect storm - there are rising violence levels and reduced staffing levels. We're not prepared to put up with it any more."
Prison officer Dave Todd, a member of the POA's national executive committee for London and Kent, said there could be redundancies - though it was not yet clear how the reforms would affect staff.
He said members were "not opposed to reform and change" but that no detail had been disclosed, and added that those who attended the meeting had been docked an hour's pay.
'Stable regimes''Stable regimes'
On Wednesday the BBC reported that prison officers at five prisons in England had staged unofficial walkouts over the past five months to raise concerns about safety.On Wednesday the BBC reported that prison officers at five prisons in England had staged unofficial walkouts over the past five months to raise concerns about safety.
In May, four members of staff refused to carry out their duties at the Mount prison in Hertfordshire, while 40 prison officers at Holme House jail, in Stockton on Teesside, withdrew in protest about changes to the regime.In May, four members of staff refused to carry out their duties at the Mount prison in Hertfordshire, while 40 prison officers at Holme House jail, in Stockton on Teesside, withdrew in protest about changes to the regime.
Further unofficial action occurred last month, when officers on two wings at Swinfen Hall in Staffordshire left prisoners locked in their cells because of safety concerns.Further unofficial action occurred last month, when officers on two wings at Swinfen Hall in Staffordshire left prisoners locked in their cells because of safety concerns.
A Prison Service spokesman said: "We have well-established contingency arrangements in place to respond to any potential action and maintain stable regimes and will continue to work closely with the unions to address any concerns they have."A Prison Service spokesman said: "We have well-established contingency arrangements in place to respond to any potential action and maintain stable regimes and will continue to work closely with the unions to address any concerns they have."
The spokesman added that the safety and welfare of staff and prisoners was "a key priority".The spokesman added that the safety and welfare of staff and prisoners was "a key priority".
Shadow prisons minister Jo Stevens said: "Any sensible employer undertaking major changes in the workplace would actively engage with their workforce right at the start, so those changes have the best chance of success.
"Our prisons are overcrowded, understaffed and violence against prison officers is at record levels. Prison officers rightly feel aggrieved about the lack of consultation with them."
The Ministry of Justice announced almost £13m in funds to improve safety in prisons last month.The Ministry of Justice announced almost £13m in funds to improve safety in prisons last month.